Rev. Greg Ward and Lonnie Moseley
December 14, 2014

On Sunday, December 14, after service, after a light lunch, 21 people gathered to talk about Membership at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley and the purpose and organization of our Membership program.

We began with a responsive reading from John Beuhrens (#728 in the gray hymnal). We formed a covenant for our conversation and talked about some of the history of Membership at UUCB.

We talked about two things in particular. First we talked about the trend within membership at UUCB over the last 15 years or so. A slide provided by Linda Laskowski shows the trend.

This actually shows that we’re losing fewer members than we have in the past. Most of the members that we are losing (over 2/3) is due to death or moving away. The problem is that we are not replacing these with new members – and especially younger new members.

This trend has continued for quite some time with notable effects not only seen in our budgeting but our overall vitality and leadership. Meanwhile the average age of our membership increases.

Rev. Greg mentioned that, as a consultant, looking at this trend and looking at the challenging new cultural context for churches in the 21^st century (with many more people dissociating from church in general), UUCB has reason for focusing some attention on membership.   The churches that are succeeding are the ones that have a clear vision of attracting and integrating new members and an organized, cooperative process for carrying out that vision.

He mentioned his projection that if UUCB doesn’t do anything, he would estimate that UUCB would have fewer than 20 years of viability left.

The concern is NOT in the warmth and interest and kindness shown to new people coming into the congregation. UUCB shows significant interest and care in greeting and welcoming people. It was mentioned that this has been, over the last 10 years, an intentionally developed area of the congregation.

We talked about the meaning of membership and did some brainstorming. What follows are the thoughts that people contributed to the conversation.

• –          Connection
• –          Involvement
• –          Depth
• –          Commitment
• –          Service
• –          Mission – create loving community, inspire spiritual growth, and encourage lives of integrity, joy and service
• –          Stories of members/friends matter
• –          Make room at the table for new people/ideas
• –          We create feelings of invitation
• –          We – individual / church are interested and relating to the needs in society
• –          Participation in the work of the church
• –          Don’t know if we have the same faiths
• –          A sense of ownership
• –          UU identity – I want liveliness and diversity and variety
• –          I joined because I met people I liked who all belonged to the church
• –          Ways to get involved
• –          Meet/know 6 people in 6 months who would go through the dead of night for you
• –          Humility
• –          Leadership
• –          Covenant
• –          Best ideas integrated
• –          Commitment to bettering ourselves
• –          Commit to supporting others and institution
• –          Attempt to move toward greater fearlessness and approach wholeness
• –          ‘Drop into our pool’

Next, we turned our attention to the ‘rights’ and ‘responsibilities’ of membership (paying specific attention to the actual tangible benefits and tangible responsibilities that came when someone says “I will sign the book and I will be a member.”

Rights of Membership (those in parentheses were considered a benefit, although it is either difficult to measure or it is something the church offers regardless of membership)

• –          Get to vote for officers of the Board of Trustees
• –          (Opportunity to pursue spiritual growth)
• –          Agree to a covenantal way of relationship
• –          (Mutual support)
• –          Getting to vote on budget (congregational issues) calling a minister, etc.
• –          Access to Free Rites of passage
• –          Professional pastoral care
• –          Limited Counseling
• –          Use of church space and resources
• –          (Posse)
• –          (Lack of guilt)
• –          (Home – Joy of Responsibility)
• –          (Knowing ourselves as difference-makers)
• –          Right to serve in leadership
• –          Privilege of being a delegate in national denomination
• –          Right to take classes w/o fee
• –          Ways to remain informed

Responsibilities of Membership

• –          Abide by and support the covenant
• –          Making a pledge (contribution of record)
• –          Contribution of leadership
• –          Your presence (showing up)
• –          Stay informed

Rev. Greg identified a few areas that were particularly ripe for immediate gain with only a little organizational attention

1. Channeling some energy into Outreach and bringing in new people to the church; and
2. Capitalizing on new visitor interest by strengthening the acclimation and integration phase of the membership program; and
3. Creating better coordination between all phases by developing a clear design for the Membership program, clear charges for each portfolio, establishing specific, measurable and attainable goals and holding regular meetings.

Overall, he expressed great confidence that Membership was an area that could definitely turn around – that what the church is doing really is needed and in demand in our culture and what we’re capable of offering throughout the church is quality programming with people who are inviting and warm. He projected that what is needed is about 7 people who are willing to give 3-4 hours/wk in a clear, concerted campaign to understand, anticipate, prepare and execute a strong membership strategy.

1. Convener
   1. Convenes and facilitates meetings
   2. Follows design of how roles are coordinated
   3. Follows team’s action items
   4. Represents Membership Team in larger conversations (Program Council, etc)
2. Out-Reach / Communication
   1. Coordinates communication strategies to/from larger public
   2. Arranges for UUCB presence in key city/county activities with our demographic
3. Visitor Hospitality
   1. Manages greeter program (schedules)
   2. Manages name tag process
   3. Relays visitor information, arranges for follow up calls / emails / invitations
   4. Offers direction to new members about areas of interest / involvement
   5. Channels visitors ready for acclimation into New Member Classes
4. Acclimation
   1. Acclimates potential new members with staff, lay leaders and other new members
   2. Organizes / runs new member classes providing
      1. History of UU
      2. History of UUCB
      3. UU Values
      4. Process and Congregational Culture (how things work here at UUCB)
      5. Organizes program leaders and staff to ‘drop in’ at New Member gatherings and explain program and opportunities for involvement
5. Integration
   1. Arranges joining as a new member
   2. Arranges new member ceremony during worship
   3. Channels new members into Chalice Circles
   4. Facilitates introductions and integration with programs
   5. Helps new members choose an area of leadership
   6. Arranges for pledging
   7. Channels new members into database and pastoral care involvement
6. Care and Services
   1. Makes sure new members are integrated into pastoral care networks
   2. Checks in every 6 months
      1. Checking if new members made connections with people
      2. Checking if new members made connections with programs
      3. Checking if new members made connections with leadership
7. Secretary
   1. Records action items and tracks accountability
   2. Circulates information
   3. Passes on information to other leaders

Linda Laskowski spoke to the group about membership as an indicator of UUCB’s overall health and longevity

This chart tracks the membership for UUCB over the last 20 years (from 1994 to 2004)

Linda talked about what would happen to UUCB’s income stream if we continued with all the assumptions and trends of the past 20 years. It points to an unsustainable projection.

Next, she outlined a plan to get to 500 members by 2020 – a net of 73 members over 6 years (about 12-15 per year). She explained how after the 4^th year we essentially get past our unsustainable trend.

Toward that aim, we announced a “Bring a Friend Sunday” on January 25. We noted that the number one strategy for new member growth was ‘coming to the church through friends.’ This beat out fliers, coming to concerts and activities or weddings/memorials and researching on the internet.

Finally, we asked for those present to share what area of the program they would be willing to participate and lead – or help lead. Between now and January 25^th we need to plan a robust New Member Event for January 29^th. The following people stepped up.

Aileen (3,4)
Kay F. (6)
Barbara Norrish (4)
Lynne C. (6 – helper)
Gail S. (2 – helper)
Michael DeWitt (2 – helper/leader)
Jac Ross (4)
Judy Sams (3 – helper)
Mac Lingo (3,4)
Jean G. (5 – helper)

Respectfully submitted,

Greg Ward